Chapter 215: Mutation (Part XIII)
As Bai Yinnian spoke, his hand reached back and grasped Xiao Ji’s.
Feeling the warmth of his touch, Xiao Ji asked:
“Do Pollutants have a standardized classification system here?”
Beyond the hidden door lay a narrow tunnel. It led all the way to a corner on the opposite side of the glass window, where a simple elevator provided direct access to the deep pit.
Bai Yinnian replied softly, “It’s hard to classify them with rigid standards. Low-risk Pollutants are easy to clear; all it takes is a flamethrower to turn them into ash.”
“Mid-risk Pollutants have stronger combat capabilities and retain a portion of their intelligence. They know how to dodge and hide, much like wild beasts.”
“High-risk Pollutants are currently rare. They are extremely aggressive, and on top of dodging and hiding, they can even utilize tactics.”
“The research institute previously tried to awaken them using human emotions like familial or romantic love, but unfortunately, there was no effect.”
And right now, Xiao Ji and Bai Yinnian were entering Pit 3, which was marked with the red sign for high-risk.
Soon, Bai Yinnian pushed Xiao Ji to the end of the tunnel. The narrow elevator door could barely accommodate the width of the wheelchair. Neither Xiao Ji nor Bai Yinnian spoke during the descent.
Once they entered the pit, the elevator doors slid shut instantly. Aside from the faint light filtering through the glass observation window above, most corners of the pit were shrouded in darkness.
At that moment, Bai Yinnian received a call from Zhao Yi, instructing him not to act rashly.
Xiao Ji gave Bai Yinnian’s hand a reassuring pat, then pushed his wheelchair toward the center of the pit alone.
Silence filled the space.
Xiao Ji closed his eyes. Aside from Bai Yinnian’s breathing by the elevator door, he could hear a faint, shallow breath coming from another corner. He continued forward toward that corner, his vision clearing as he drew closer.
He soon spotted a small boy crouching in the corner, playing with several pieces of bone.
At the same time, two researchers in white lab coats appeared behind Zhao Yi.
“This is the first time Subject 3 has been this quiet in the presence of an outsider,” one of the researchers remarked while taking notes.
Zhao Yi’s face remained expressionless as he said:
“This young man Captain Bai brought back is one of the only two known products of perfect evolution under Heaven’s Punishment. If anything happens to him, it’ll be a massive loss.”
The researcher nodded. “I know. That’s why this experiment is necessary.”
“Aside from being uncontrollable, Subject 3 is currently the optimal product of reagent evolution. No one in the entire Divine Wings can rival him, except for Captain Bai.”
“Once we find a way to control Subject 3, many follow-up experiments can proceed.”
Zhao Yi looked back at him. “Dr. Cui, if I may be blunt, I’m afraid it might not be a good thing if Xiao Ji can truly control Subject 3. Xiao Ji isn’t like Captain Bai; he doesn’t trust us completely.”
Dr. Cui pursed his lips. “Then we’ll extract the unique substances from Mr. Xiao’s body and see if we can replicate his ability and apply it to our own people.”
Xiao Ji drew closer to the child playing with the bones.
Unlike the grotesque Pollutants he had imagined roaming the outside world, this child looked no different from an ordinary boy. If he weren’t fiddling with blood-stained human bones but with building blocks instead, he would have looked entirely harmless.
The boy sensed Xiao Ji’s presence, looked up, and stopped playing with the bones.
From the diagonal corner, Bai Yinnian’s nerves were pulled taut as he prepared to rescue Xiao Ji at any second.
Their eyes met. Xiao Ji looked at the child’s round, pitch-black pupils and his dirty little face. He raised an eyebrow and suddenly smiled.
“Interesting. Did you suddenly take human form?”
The boy tilted his head and said nothing.
Xiao Ji reached out to him. “Come here. Let me see you.”
Outside the glass window, Zhao Yi and Dr. Cui watched the scene intently. They saw Xiao Ji speak to the boy and reach out a hand. In the next second, the child walked toward Xiao Ji and obediently placed his hand in Xiao Ji’s.
Xiao Ji even stroked the boy’s cheek.
Zhao Yi frowned. “Are you sure Subject 3 was absolutely barbaric before this?”
Dr. Cui adjusted his glasses and said to Zhao Yi:
“Inject frenzy agents into Subjects 2, 4, 16, and 47 and release them into Pit 3. We need some stimulating elements.”
Xiao Ji stroked the boy’s cheek and looked down at his filthy little hands. He whispered:
“You look about the way I imagined, just a bit dirty.”
The boy’s large, watery eyes stared straight at Xiao Ji. Just as he was about to move closer, the thick concrete walls in the middle of the pit began to vibrate.
Four hidden doors—positioned at the cardinal directions and previously blended perfectly with the walls—slowly opened. A damp, sickly stench of blood instantly filled the air.
Xiao Ji turned his head and saw a creature nearly three meters tall with two human heads lunging at him with its maw wide open.
The boy was incredibly fast. As the creature approached, his pitch-black pupils turned blood-red.
Simultaneously, the monster let out a roar, and its two heads jerked violently before exploding into two clouds of blood mist with a bang.
Xiao Ji sat in his wheelchair without any reaction.
However, Bai Yinnian could no longer stand by. As the other three aberrant creatures approached Xiao Ji and the boy, he appeared before Xiao Ji in the blink of an eye.
Two massive golden wings unfurled from Bai Yinnian’s back, instantly shielding Xiao Ji and the boy.
Those wings weren’t made of feathers, but of sharp, blade-like spikes wreathed in flames. Countless blades shot out as Bai Yinnian spread his wings, piercing the Pollutants. The flames clung to them like maggots to bone, burning ferociously.
The foul smell of charred flesh reached Xiao Ji’s nose. He raised a hand to cover his mouth and nose, letting out two light coughs.
By the time Bai Yinnian retracted his wings, only a few piles of charred carbon remained in the pit.
He looked up at Zhao Yi’s grim face behind the glass, then asked Xiao Ji:
“Were you scared?”
Xiao Ji shook his head. “I was impressed.”
Bai Yinnian was currently furious at Zhao Yi’s actions and had no time for Xiao Ji’s compliments. He only said:
“Let’s talk once we’re out.”
Xiao Ji picked up the little boy and handed him to Bai Yinnian:
“Take him out.”
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